Wednesday, 16 January 2008

Sun acquires MySQL

After all the industry speculation about MySQL being a "hot 2008 IPO", this probably takes most of us by surprise -- users, community members, customers, partners, and employees. And for all of these stakeholders, it may take some time to digest what this means. Depending on one's relationship to MySQL, the immediate reaction upon hearing the news may be a mixture of various feelings, including excitement, pride, disbelief and satisfaction, but also anxiety.

Being part of the group planning this announcement for the last few weeks, I have had the fortune to contemplate the consequences during several partially sleepless nights (I usually sleep like a log). And over the coming days and weeks, I'll provide a series of blogs with various viewpoints of the deal.

First of all, let's point out a couple of facts about Sun Microsystems -- since all MySQL stakeholders may not be fully up to speed about Sun.

For me personally, I'm excited to get the opportunity to actively contribute to the successful integration of MySQL into Sun. I want to make an impact in merging our corporate cultures, and I look forward to making that a bi-directional process. Since I am based outside the US, I am particularly excited about meeting the many Sun engineers located in Hamburg (Germany), Grenoble (France), Prague (Czech Republic), St Petersburg (Russia), Beijing (China) and Bangalore (India).

But let me now turn to the more general planned implications of Sun's acquisition of MySQL AB.

What does the acquisition of MySQL by Sun mean for MySQL users?

Given Sun's proven track record as the largest contributor to Open Source, I think MySQL users have plenty of reason to feel happy about the acquisition. There are many companies that attempt to ride the wave of positive attention towards Open Source, but in my judgement, Sun gets it right. Sun gets Open Source. Java has been released under the GPL. There's the OpenSolaris operating system. There's Open Office / Star Office. There's the GlassFish application server. There's the NetBeans IDE tool. And more.

Sun's track record is embodied by individuals with a solid set of FOSS values, such as Simon Phipps (Sun's Chief Open Source Officer), Ian Murdock (Debian founder, now Sun's Chief OS Strategist), and Josh Berkus (PostgreSQL lead). I've met all three in various FOSS arenas, I respect their work, and I am looking forward to be working closely with them.

Anxiety on the part of MySQL users may stem from Sun's success with Java and Solaris. Will MySQL's support for other programming languages and operating systems now be given less attention?

Absolutely not. MySQL is still being managed by the same people, and the charter is still the same. There is no need for reducing the set of platforms or languages. It only makes sense for us to continue to support defacto Web development standards like LAMP, as well as emerging ones like Ruby and Eclipse. This deal is about addition, not subtraction.

But let's dwell on the topic of Solaris a bit. Solaris has a special position in the heart of MySQL, as it was the first platform under which MySQL was developed. Linux came second. Internally, code coverage tests were long performed just on Sun. And with the DTrace probes planned as part of 6.0, some types of optimisation of MySQL applications are the easiest on Solaris.

I would expect that having access to the topmost Solaris and Java experts within the same company will accelerate our development for the benefit of MySQL users on the Solaris platform, and in the Java environment, respectively.

But I don't expect that in any way to be at the cost of other popular operating systems (Linux, Windows, Mac OS/X, other Unixes etc.) or development environments (PHP, Ruby on Rails, Perl, Python, ODBC, C++, C#, VB etc.). MySQL grew with LAMP and MySQL without LAMP at its core is simply unimaginable. It was MySQLs part of LAMP that interested Sun in the first place. Hence I don't see Sun having a platform migration strategy, but to continue to be an integral part of the dot in .com.

So while the news may be especially good for MySQL users on Solaris and/or Java, the news is definitely good irrespective of environment: As part of Sun, the MySQL database will have immediate access to technical, marketing, OSS developer relations and sales rescources that would have taken us years to build as an independent company.

What does the acquisition of MySQL by Sun mean for the core MySQL community?

I'd like to think that the acquisition of MySQL by Sun will be seen as good news also by the core group of users who form the active MySQL community. This is because Sun is a safe haven for MySQL. Sun knows Open Source, and to the extent things change, I expect Sun to add value to our community. I don't expect huge change, though. We continue to work with our quality contributors, we continue to provide our MySQL Forums, the Planet MySQL blog aggregator, we remain on the #mysql-dev and #mysql channels on Freenode, we provide MySQL University lessons, we meet at the MySQL Users Conference. We'll put effort into connecting the many FOSS enthusiasts and experts at Sun -- whom we will now learn to know better -- with our active user community.

What does the acquisition of MySQL by Sun mean for the MySQL employees?

Admittedly, this blog is not directed at MySQL employees. We have a different, internal blog called "Village MySQL" for that purpose (as opposed to "Planet MySQL"). But many of our users, community members, customers, and partners have close relationships with MySQL employees -- and you may be interested in what Sun's acquisition of MySQL means for the employees.

For employees, Sun's acquisition means continuity. MÃƒÂ¥rten Mickos will continue to lead us, and our executives and key engineering leads plan to join Sun. In addition, our existing engineering staff will be invited to come over as well. Sun executives have made us feel very welcomed and valued.

Very important for our employees is the fact that we can continue to work on Free and Open Source software. We can continue to work from home (as most of us do, including myself). Titles, reporting structures, and long-term goals may change, but as acquisition goes, the Sun culture as I've experienced it so far seems fairly similar to ours.

And -- whether it's destiny, divinity or just good luck -- we get the opportunity to digest all of this together, during the MySQL All-Company Meeting here in Orlando. It goes on this week until Saturday 19 Jan.

Being acquired by Sun is unique for all of us MySQLers. But for two very special employees, it's something even more. I'm thinking of our founders, Michael "Monty" Widenius and David Axmark. I'm very happy for them. Sure, the transaction has a financial impact on them, and it's positive. But we're humble Scandinavians, so we don't flash money, nor even talk about it. More importantly, I can see their heritage being in good hands at Sun. They didn't develop MySQL in order to Get Rich Quick; in fact, they rejected offers that would have accomplished that goal during the Bubble. They developed MySQL in order to have a positive impact on the world of computing. And as a step in that direction, they took in venture financing.

VCs are more motivated by money than our founders, and obviously look for a return on their investment. That involves either an IPO or a trade sale. Of all candidates to acquire MySQL, I cannot imagine a more ideal buyer from a founder perspective than Sun Microsystems. If I know our founders right (and I've known Monty since the late 1970s and David since the 1980s), they will use this deal as an opportunity to accomplish even more within the space of Open Source and Sun Microsystems.

What does this mean for the .NET MySQL connector and other things MySQL was working with Microsoft on? I love the connector and it has allowed me to use MySQL as the backend in my .NET projects. I've been hoping for a LINQ to MySQL extension as well. I just hope that this does not deter the work with MS.

I have used mySQL for webdevelopment for years. It is 1st rate. We also develop for the desktop market and will soon rollout a PostGres offering as the licensing for mySQL commercial for say 15 users or less is too prohibitive. $900 per annum per site for 2-15 users is prohibitive. Hope SUN looks at the commercial licensing on the small end to compete again Microsoft free offerings in this space. Would like to stay with mySQL.

Although this has been rumored for quite a long time now… as of today, Jan. 16 2008, Sun Microsystems has purchased MySQL.I’ve been a MySQL user since 2000. And I’d really hate it if MySQL changes its open source policy. However, Kaj...

I am just getting into web technologies and have seen that the most scalable systems have easy to use glassfish and java involvement. I know this buyout will do good in the future for the involvement of connectivity from application server to database. not to mention top-link which is a great tool to use.

This news saddens me. MySQL is about more than open source or the dot-com bubble. MySQL is about alternatives to closed systems like Oracle and Sybase. I can't see why a company like Sun would like to upset the Sun/Oracle ecosystem when it accounts for so much of their critical customer's application needs. This merger makes no sense.

After all the industry speculation about MySQL being a Ã¢â‚¬Å“hot 2008 IPOÃ¢â‚¬Â, this probably takes most of us by surprise Ã¢â‚¬â€ users, community members, customers, partners, and employees. And for all of these stakeholders, it may take some time to digest w...

[...]After all the industry speculation about MySQL being a Ã¢â‚¬Å“hot 2008 IPOÃ¢â‚¬Â, this probably takes most of us by surprise Ã¢â‚¬â€ users, community members, customers, partners, and employees. And for all of these stakeholders, it may take some time to dig...

Well, you guys are doing really an excellent work at MySQL and if this acquisition will bring you and your projects forward, thats is great!As a user (my application is a text information management system in the 300Million records / 10Gb area) and occasional developer of open source software, I just hope SUN will let you do as good as you have done up to now!Very frankly, this new makes me a bit anxious...

This is the death of mysql.First they're going to rewrite the tools in java. After that the server, after that the API's. And after that they'll remove all support for not-OO languages what will kill mysql. Have fun, I'm out of here and going to start using Postgre and Oracle again.

Ã¢â‚¬â„¢d like to think that the acquisition of MySQL by Sun will be seen as good news also by the core group of users who form the active MySQL community. This is because Sun is a safe haven for MySQL. Sun knows Open Source, and to the extent things change...

It's shocking to hear about this today, Well Garfsfield!? I think you are right about Sun's management record on the different systems they have, And I wonder what happens to developers how work hard to keep most open source web development/projects going. I think PostgreSQL is now the way to go.

If you change DBMS because of this then wow - you are really silly people. Talk about kneejerk reaction.

Sun, like many older corporatations has mixed OSS support. However, they have changed dramatically in last few years in their outlook and have put their money where their mouth is. IMHO this is good for the ENTERPRISE adoption of MySql. Will it change significantly the MySql we know? Maybe, time will tell. Will it be for the worse? Unlikely. But changing your DBMS to Oracle? Wow, talk about calling the kettle black!Postgres? Ok, loose functionality.And as for changing to a Java db. Why would they they already have one Derby. Microsoft support? Do you not follow the news? Sun has signed several agreements with M$. Including OEM support! Stop being Chicken Littles. The sky is NOT falling!

MySQL AB, represents a strategic acquisition by SUN. But what happens to the delicate business and 'special' relationship with Oracle and for that matter, the recent posturing of PostgreSQL as the alternative 'open source' RDBMS of choice, by SUN?

That's very nice that sun acquire the mysql so what will be the next step will sun develop RAD applications for mysql like forms and reports for mysql for fast development of desktop and web applications. Really i'm very happy after this big step of sun to acquire the mysql. i hope it will be a very strong combination in open source.

Sun makes a lot of money selling boxes that run Oracle and, as far as I know, these companies do a lot of joint bids for large corporate projects. You have to wonder how Sun can be serious about propping up MySQL while still doing the large Oracle-based deals.

From my long experience with corporate dealings: this deal is only good for the folks at MySQL getting a bag of cash. While they probably deserve it, there is nothing there for the rest of us, users and customers. There never is.

P.S.: Citing Staroffice as one of Sun's Open Source credentials is a joke: does anybody besides Scott McNealy really use Staroffice? (His mother doesn't count for an answer.)

And next to Sun, MySQL will not be the "poor brother" as it could be next to Oracle.Oracle just wanted to eliminate a competitor. It doesn't have any interests in growing MySQL. "Keep close and control" that was the Oracle's idea.

what was the role of the free software community in the development of mySQL? if it was significant, where does MySQL >the companythe product< to Sun?

in any case, when upgrades for mysql no longer come via debian, i will move to an alternative. and i'm already researching the alternatives. another thing that would have me leaving is if the deadheads that did the java documentation get hold of the mysql book.

[...] MySQL AB :: Kaj ArnÃƒÂ¶ After all the industry speculation about MySQL being a Ã¢â‚¬Å“hot 2008 IPOÃ¢â‚¬Â, this probably takes most of us by surprise Ã¢â‚¬â€ users, community members, customers, partners, and employees. And for all of these stakeholders, it may take some time to digest what this means. Depending on oneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s relationship to MySQL, the immediate reaction upon hearing the news may be a mixture of various feelings, including excitement, pride, disbelief and satisfaction, but also anxiety. [...]

[...] MySQL AB :: Kaj ArnÃƒÂ¶ After all the industry speculation about MySQL being a Ã¢â‚¬Å“hot 2008 IPOÃ¢â‚¬Â, this probably takes most of us by surprise Ã¢â‚¬â€ users, community members, customers, partners, and employees. And for all of these stakeholders, it may take some time to digest what this means. Depending on oneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s relationship to MySQL, the immediate reaction upon hearing the news may be a mixture of various feelings, including excitement, pride, disbelief and satisfaction, but also anxiety. [...]